TRENTON — The city plans to unveil a bust of President Barack Obama on Dec. 13 in the Atrium at City Hall at 10 a.m.

According to a release issued by the Mayor’s office, the bronze bust of the 44th U.S. President began as an initiative under the leadership of City Mayoral Aide Anthony Roberts.

In the release, Roberts who served as the committee chairperson of The President Barack H. Obama Bust Committee said, “the Committee’s intent was to find a way the City of Trenton could honor President Barack Obama, as our nation’s first African-American President. His election represented so much pride and hope to so many Americans and we wanted to memorialize it. The Committee worked diligently to identify and secure private dollars and we can say that 100 percent of the funds needed to complete this project were raised through private financing.”

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The bust was designed and manufactured by the St. Louis Sculpture Factory, a family-owned art fabrication studio in St. Louis Missouri. According to the release it took the St. Louis Sculpture Factory 80-hours to complete the bust.

Mitch Horstmann, owner of The St. Louis Sculpture Factory said in the release issued by the city, “The imagery I wanted to convey was that of a leader with rolled up sleeves and a loosened tie; someone who was ready to work.”

The bronze sculpture pays tribute to what the mayor calls one of the greatest moments in his adult life.

“One of the greatest moments of my adult life occurred on the evening of Nov. 4, 2008, with the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States.,” said Mayor Tony Mack. “The installation of this bronze bust in the atrium of Trenton City Hall is not an ode to party or politics. The mayor continued by saying that the bust recognizes the efforts of a great American who has changed the course of American history.

“I can think of no more fitting a tribute in one of America’s oldest cities; Trenton,” said Mack.

The bust raises more questions than answers said city activist Michael Walker.

“The mayor continues to demonstrate a lack of understanding of the serious issues that Trenton faces,” said City activist Michael Walker. “Out of left field, and without input from the City Council or general public, the President Barack H. Obama Bust Committee, like his Learning Centers, raises more questions about how these projects are initiated and paid for and what measurable impact they have on the city’s quality of life.”

The unveiling of the bust comes at a curious time for the Mack administration following a federal indictment and the rash of violence that has spiked in recent weeks, leaving many residents concerned about their safety.

“It’s absolutely amazing this lunacy that comes out of the Mayor’s Office while Trentonians are being shot and killed and businesses are being robbed at gun and knifepoint.”

It should be noted that a bust of John F. Kennedy is already on display at City Hall and was erected in memorial of the assassinated president, however busts of presidents such as George Washington who had historical ties to the city of Trenton are not present in the atrium at city hall.

Efforts to reach out to the city for further comment were not immediately returned.